Catholic Charities USA Hosts Centennial Year Poverty Reduction Summit in Chicago

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Apr 29, 2010, 08:45 ET

Presents Centennial Medals to Recognize Individual Contributions to 100-Year Mission

CHICAGO, April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Catholic Charities USA, the 170-member national human services organization committed to cutting poverty in half by 2020 – joined by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago – convened one of 10 Centennial Summits today at the Chicago Sheraton Hotel and Towers as part of the organization's 100-year history. Rev. Larry Snyder, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, presented the Centennial Medal to three individuals who have made valuable contributions and the Centennial Recognition Program Award to local programs that demonstrate strong work and focused efforts to strengthen communities and reduce poverty.

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The event brought together civic leaders, elected officials and other interested parties to address the devastation of poverty in the country. Among the speakers during the day-long summit were Rev. Larry Snyder, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA; Jim Ryan, former Attorney General of the State of Illinois; Commissioner Mary Ellen Caron, City of Chicago's Family and Support Services; Terry Mazany, president and CEO of the Chicago Community Trust; Steve Roach, executive director of Catholic Charities in Springfield, IL; Candy Hill, Sr. Vice President of Social Policy and Government Affairs, Catholic Charities USA; Professor Don Haider, Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University; Dr. Philip Young P. Hong, assistant professor of social work at Loyola University Chicago; and Amy Terpstra, associate director of the Social IMPACT Research Center of the Heartland Alliance.

"In a country like ours, even in these tough times, it is simply unacceptable that close to 40 million people live in poverty," said Rev. Snyder. "Catholic Charities agencies and Catholic Charities USA seek a sustained national commitment that will ensure a reduction in poverty. Together, we can lift each other up. Only collectively can we begin to change the face of poverty."

Fr. Snyder presented the prestigious Centennial Medal to Allison Boisvert, a social justice minister for the Pax Christi Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Minneapolis-St. Paul; Sister Rosemary Connelly, RSM, director of Chicago's Misericordia Home, a private residence for children under six with mental and physical disabilities; and a posthumous award to Rev. Roger J. Coughlin, former Associate Administrator of Catholic Charities. Father Coughlin passed away April 15, 2010. His award was accepted by Rev. Michael Boland, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

The Catholic Charities USA Centennial Medal recognizes the contributions of individuals and organizations to the reduction of poverty in the United States and their commitment to the vision and mission of Catholic Charities USA. Recipients are chosen by a Centennial Medal Committee, which includes Fr. Snyder and key national CCUSA Board Members and leadership within CCUSA.

The summit also included an awards presentation honoring two Catholic Charities programs that are effectively working to reduce poverty in their communities. The innovative programs were recognized for best practices in Catholic Charities USA's poverty issue areas: health, housing, hunger, economic security, education/job training. Each agency received a $25,000 award to invest in further development of their program.

—Catholic Charities Financial Health Counseling
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Green Bay
This budget and debt counseling services program is rooted in the belief that a strong family and community is the ultimate goal. The program looks at housing, individual development accounts, business partnerships, community awareness, diversity circles, and predatory lending to strengthen financial well-being.

—St. Leo Campus
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago
The St. Leo Campus is comprised of four different programs designed to improve the community's capacity to serve its veterans through stable housing, job training, addiction support and counseling. All of Catholic Charities Veterans Initiatives are designed to help formerly homeless veterans achieve self-sufficiency and prevent homelessness through employment services for veterans and through the provision of affordable housing for senior veterans.

The Chicago summit is part of a nationwide series that will culminate in Washington, D.C., on September, 26, 2010. The summits provide a forum for thought-leaders, major influencers and citizens-at-large to come together and act on poverty.

Catholic Charities USA's members -- more than 1,700 local Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide -- provide help and create hope for nearly 9 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing. In 2010, Catholic Charities USA celebrates its centennial anniversary. For more information, visit www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org.

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA